A solar tracker waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar panels of solar trackers in at least one solar tracker row, each solar tracker having a length and a width and being able to be positioned at a pre-determined angle, the cleaning system including at least one waterless cleaning apparatus operable to clean a panel surface of the solar tracker row without using water, at least two rails positioned horizontally parallel to the solar tracker row, a support frame for supporting the cleaning apparatus and a controller coupled with the cleaning apparatus and with the support frame for moving the cleaning apparatus in the width direction and the length direction of the solar tracker row, the support frame moving over the rails and moving the cleaning apparatus in a width direction and a length direction of the solar tracker row while maintaining a pre-determined angle in the width direction of the solar trackers.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A solar tracker waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar panels of solar trackers in at least one solar tracker row, said solar tracker row comprising a plurality of solar trackers, each said solar tracker having a length and a width and being able to be positioned at a pre-determined angle, said waterless cleaning system comprising: at least one waterless cleaning apparatus operable to clean a surface of solar panels of said at least one solar tracker row without using water; at least two rails positioned horizontally parallel to said solar tracker row; a support frame for supporting said at least one waterless cleaning apparatus, said support frame moving over said at least two rails and moving said at least one waterless cleaning apparatus in a width direction and a length direction of said at least one solar tracker row while maintaining a pre-determined angle in said width direction of said solar trackers; a controller coupled with said at least one waterless cleaning apparatus and with said support frame for moving said at least one waterless cleaning apparatus in said width direction and said length direction of said at least one solar tracker row, thereby causing said at least one waterless cleaning apparatus to clean said surface of said solar panels while moving downwards in said width direction of said solar trackers; a plurality of rail segments; and a plurality of rail switching points, wherein said at least one waterless cleaning apparatus comprises at least one air stream generating apparatus for creating a directional air stream in said width direction of said at least one solar tracker row, said directional air stream pushing dust particles from said surface of said solar panels downwards and off said solar panels of said solar trackers; said at least one air stream generating apparatus comprising a plurality of flexible microfiber fins that move in said direction of said directional air stream and touch said surface of said solar panels to enhance a cleaning of said surface of said solar panels without using water; wherein consecutive ones of said plurality of rail segments are respectfully coupled with consecutive ones of said at least two rails; wherein said plurality of rail switching points are coupled between at least two of said plurality of rail segments and said at least two rails; and wherein said plurality of rail segments and said plurality of rail switching points enable said system to clean said solar panels of solar trackers in at least two solar tracker rows.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one air stream generating apparatus comprises at least one rotatable apparatus for generating said directional air stream downwards along said surface of said solar panels of said solar trackers.
3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein said plurality of flexible microfiber fins are coupled with said at least one rotatable apparatus.
4. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor.
5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein said at least one sensor is for sensing at least one parameter selected from the list consisting of: an up position of said at least one waterless cleaning apparatus; a position of said at least one waterless cleaning apparatus along said support frame; a position of said support frame along said at least two rails; and an end position of said support frame.
6. The system according to claim 1 , said controller further comprising: a rechargeable battery, for powering said system; and a programmable logic controller.
7. The system according to claim 6 , further comprising a solar panel, coupled with said support frame, for recharging said rechargeable battery.
8. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising: a rotating drum; a frame, for holding said rotating drum; at least two isolated metal cables, coupled with said at least one waterless cleaning apparatus and with said rotating drum; and a motor, coupled with said frame, for driving said rotating drum, wherein said at least two isolated metal cables wind and unwind around said rotating drum; and wherein said at least two isolated metal cables are for pulling said at least one waterless cleaning apparatus in an upwards direction along said support frame.
9. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a drive mechanism.
10. The system according to claim 9 , said drive mechanism comprising: a first pulley, coupled with a supporting pole of said supporting frame; two wheels; two second pulleys, coupled with said two wheels; two belts, each respectively coupled with said pulley and with one of said two second pulleys; and a metal element, coupled with said supporting pole, for supporting said two wheels.
11. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising at least two additional rails positioned horizontally perpendicular to said solar tracker row.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
January 25, 2016
September 27, 2016
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